Marius Iscru wins the EC 2024 “Last Chance” Friday tournament!

Marciej, Emiliano, Marius, Marcus and Nina.

Report by Maciej Broniarz, VEKN National Coordinator of Poland:

On Friday September 27, 153 players participated in the so-called “Last Chance Qualifier” tournament in Warsaw, Poland. The name might be confusing, as it is a remnant of ye-olde-days when players had to qualify in order to play in the main European Championship’s events. This was actually the first event of the EC which gave you a chance to compete in the Day 2 tournament of the EC, all you had to do was become one of the finalists :)

All good photos by Markos Saari.

The event was held in two rooms of the Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Mechanics at the University of Warsaw.

Standings after three rounds:
1. Emiliano Imeroni 2 GW 8.5 VP
2. Marius Iscru 2 GW 7.5 VP
3. Nina Nilsson 2 GW 7 VP 162 TP
4. Marcus Berg 2 GW 7 VP 144 TP
5. Maciej Frankowiak 2 GW 7 VP 144 TP

Congratulations Marius Iscru of France, winning with timed-out 1.5 victory points in the final. Marcus Berg, Maciej Frankowiak and Nina Nilsson each got 0.5 vp.

Marius tournament-winning deck: “Sunshine Dogs”

Crypt (12 cards)
1x Massimiliano 7 ANI FOR pro baron Gangrel:6
3x Kuyén 6 ANI PRO baron Gangrel:6
2x Casey Snyder 6 PRO ani cel for baron Gangrel:6
1x André the Manipulator 6 FOR PRO Gangrel:5
1x Martina Srnankova 6 FOR PRO ani Gangrel:6
1x Kamile Paukstys 5 PRO ani for Gangrel:6
1x Nathan Turner 4 PRO ani Gangrel:6
1x Indira 3 PRO Gangrel:6
1x Joseph Fischer 3 PRO Gangrel antitribu:5

Library (80 cards)
Master (20; 6 trifle)
1x Anarch Free Press, The
1x Carfax Abbey
2x Club Illusion
2x Direct Intervention
1x Ecoterrorists
1x Erciyes Fragments, The
1x Garibaldi-Meucci Museum
1x Life Boon
1x Powerbase: Montreal
1x Rack, The
1x Smiling Jack, The Anarch
2x Vessel
3x Villein
1x Wider View
1x Zoo Hunting Ground

Action (7)
1x Constant Revolution
1x Rewilding
5x Thing

Political Action (1)
1x Reckless Agitation

Equipment (4)
2x Heart of Nizchetus
2x Sniper Rifle

Retainer (4)
4x Raven Spy

Action Modifier (1)
1x Monkey Wrench

Action Modifier/Reaction (5)
5x Form of the Bat

Combat (15)
11x Earth Meld
4x Form of Mist

Reaction (23)
5x Bait and Switch
5x Deep Ecology
2x Eyes of the Wild
9x Organized Resistance
2x Protection Racket


The other finalists’ decks:

“Bill's Tzimisce” by Bill Troxel, played by Emiliano Imeroni
“Shameless ripoff of Bill Troxel's NAC winning deck - even including one of his suggested changes.”

Crypt (12 cards)
4x Adrino Manauara 8 ANI DOM PRO pot baron Tzimisce:6
3x Ángel Guerrero 7 ANI DOM PRO baron Tzimisce:6
1x Branimira  6 ANI dom pre pro baron Tzimisce:6
1x Kuyén  6 ANI PRO  baron Gangrel:6
1x Clara Hjortshøj 5 PRO ani aus dom  Tzimisce:6
1x Kamile Paukstys 5 PRO ani for  Gangrel:6
1x New Blood  2 san   Blood Brother:any

Library (85 cards)
Master (15; 4 trifle)
1x Carfax Abbey
1x Direct Intervention
3x Dreams of the Sphinx
2x Garibaldi-Meucci Museum
1x Giant's Blood
1x Papillon
1x Pentex(TM) Subversion
1x Powerbase: Montreal
2x Villein
2x Wider View

Action (15)
3x Deep Song
12x Govern the Unaligned

Political Action (2)
2x Eat the Rich

Action Modifier (8)
4x Conditioning
4x Earth Control

Action Modifier/Reaction (3)
3x Form of the Bat

Combat (17)
1x Donnybrook
9x Earth Meld
7x Form of Mist

Reaction (25)
4x Bait and Switch
5x Deep Ecology
4x Deflection
3x Delaying Tactics
1x On the Qui Vive
6x Organized Resistance
2x Protection Racket


“EC Friday final” by Marcus Berg

Crypt (12 cards)
3x Adrino Manauara 8 ANI DOM PRO pot baron Tzimisce:6
1x Giovanni del Georgio 8 DOM NEC POT PRO  Giovanni:5
3x Ángel Guerrero  7 ANI DOM PRO baron Tzimisce:6
1x Branimira  6 ANI dom pre pro baron Tzimisce:6
2x Clara Hjortshøj 5 PRO ani aus dom  Tzimisce:6
1x Kamile Paukstys 5 PRO ani for  Gangrel:6
1x Marialena  5 DOM PRO ani  Tzimisce:6

Library (90 cards)
Master (14; 4 trifle)
1x Anarch Troublemaker
1x Barrens, The
2x Carfax Abbey
1x Elder Library
1x From a Sinking Ship
1x Garibaldi-Meucci Museum
1x Giant's Blood
2x Papillon
2x Villein
2x Wider View

Action (17)
3x Deep Song
1x Dominate Kine
1x Far Mastery
12x Govern the Unaligned

Political Action (2)
2x Eat the Rich

Retainer (1)
1x Mr. Winthrop

Action Modifier (8)
4x Conditioning
4x Earth Control

Action Modifier/Combat (4)
4x Obedient Flesh

Action Modifier/Reaction (9)
4x Form of the Bat
5x Murmur of the False Will

Combat (14)
7x Earth Meld
7x Form of Mist

Reaction (21)
2x Deep Ecology
6x Deflection
2x Delaying Tactics
4x One With the Land
7x Organized Resistance


“Valkyries” by Nina “Kimbo” Nilsson

Crypt (12 cards)
2x Brunhilde (ADV) 8 ANI FOR PRO pre baron Gangrel:3
1x Brunhilde 8 ANI FOR PRO pre Gangrel:3
9x Valkyrie 4 for pre pro Gangrel:3

Library (80 cards)
Master (16)
1x Archon Investigation
1x Backways
1x Ecoterrorists
5x Effective Management
1x Ennoia's Theater
3x Gangrel Revel
1x Pentex(TM) Subversion
3x Tribute to the Master

Action (19)
1x Aranthebes, The Immortal
1x Legal Manipulations
1x Rewilding
16x Thing

Ally (2)
1x Carlton Van Wyk
1x Double Deuce

Equipment (4)
2x Camera Phone
2x Sport Bike

Retainer (1)
1x J. S. Simmons, Esq.

Action Modifier (13)
6x Enchanting Gaze
7x Revelation of the Serpent

Action Modifier/Reaction (2)
2x Form of the Bat

Combat (11)
3x Earth Meld
3x Hidden Strength
3x Soak
2x Taste of Vitae

Reaction (12)
2x Delaying Tactics
10x Eyes of the Wild


“Shalmath combat” by Maciej “Grim” Frankowiak

Crypt (12 cards)
5x Shalmath  10 POT PRE TEM True Brujah:6
1x "Coach" Tyrone Soros 3 obf pre  Ministry:6
1x Adisa   3 cel obf  Banu Haqim:6
1x Kalila   3 aus obf  Malkavian:5
1x Alu   2 obf  Banu Haqim:5
1x New Blood  2 san  Blood Brother:any
1x Anarch Convert  1   Caitiff:any
1x Walker Grimes  1 ani  Caitiff:5

Library (90 cards)
Master (11; 2 trifle)
1x Archon Investigation
1x Carver's Meat Packing and Storage
1x Direct Intervention
1x Fame
1x Giant's Blood
1x Guardian Angel
2x Perfectionist
1x Tabriz Assembly
2x Vessel

Event (2)
1x Narrow Minds
1x Unmasking, The

Action (15)
2x Ambush
2x Big Game
2x Bum's Rush
8x Summon History
1x Vaticination

Ally (4)
1x Carlton Van Wyk
1x Ossian
1x Tye Cooper
1x Veneficti

Equipment (4)
1x Eye of Hazimel
1x Signet of King Saul, The
1x Sport Bike
1x Starshell Grenade Launcher

Retainer (2)
1x Mr. Winthrop
1x Omael Kuman

Action Modifier (13)
10x Domain of Evernight
3x Enkil Cog

Combat (38)
4x Decapitate
6x Disarm
8x Majesty
16x Outside the Hourglass
4x Taste of Vitae

Reaction (1)
1x Rewind Time

Kelly Lyons wins Grand Prix New Orleans 2024!

This event was played on October 14. Reported by Devin Villegas, VEKN Prince of New Orleans, with comments from the winner:

We had a total of 19 methuselahs across three days in New Orleans attending tournaments, with a peak attendance of 18 folks on Saturday. There was also an incredible event Friday where someone's collection fell out of their car into a busy thoroughfare. A local bartender saw it happen, notified the game store, and a large group of gamers and bar patrons rallied to safely collect the cards from the street. Quite the display of hospitality and communities supporting each other.

Above: The place of the incident.

 

Standings after round 3:
1. Andy Smith 3 GW 11 VP
2. Mark Figuerola 2 GW 9 VP
3. Norm Brown 2 GW 8 VP
4. Brad Cashdollar 1 GW 5 VP
5. Kelly Lyons 1 GW 2,5 VP

Kelly Lyons comment:

First of all, it was a miracle just to get to the final table. I was ousted in Round 1 in about twenty minutes. Round 2 was just luck. I was sandwiched between two wall combat decks; Tremere predator and Brujah prey. My ally helped me out with a banishment on my Brujah prey. I followed it up with a banishment on him as well. All of sudden I had prey I could handle. Got my game win when the table timed out. Round 3 was like Round 1. I was the first one out. So, I was lucky to have a game win and be in 5th place after Round 3.

Second, the seating for the final was not in my favor. When I looked at it I felt I would be the first one out. Not to mention, I drew the short straw and played first.

Third, Brad and I were essentially playing the same deck. So, contesting was another hurdle.

Fourth, the only real chance for me to win was to back oust Norm. Easier said than done.

When it comes to a Tupdog Deck being my predator I have had plenty of experience over the last two years to develop a strategy. Don’t bring out vampires!!! They have to hunt someone else.

Now, in this tournament I did bring out a 2-capacity vampire, Mateo Garcia, just to have some sort of presence on the table. Norm topored him immediately. So, I spent the next four turns just influencing enough to bring out two vampires at the same time with another one ready to go. I also, set-up my hand to get ready for the onslaught.

Meanwhile, Norm was busy killing the board. He crippled Brad immediately when he burned Diana Iadanza. He then diablerized one of Mark’s vampires and got three Trophy Progenies into play. However, he was down to 10-pool and I had my board and hand set.

I influenced out Catalina Vega and Flavio Goncalves. Flavio has a built in dodge which will come into play. My hand was the following:
1X Majesty
1X Charismatic Aura
1X Resist Earth's Grasp
1X Forced March
1X Voter Captivation
1X Camarilla's Iron Fist
1X Kine Resources Contested

Norm sent three rushes at Flavio. Using the built-in dodge and my combat cards, Flavio, was still in the ready region. He didn’t have blood but he was still there. Flavio hunted, then Forced Marched. I hit Norm for 4-pool damage with Camarilla's Iron Fist. Then followed it up with 3-pool damage with Kine Resources Contested. Norm was left with 3-pool. I let Brad do the rest. Norm was gone and Brad was crippled.

Next, I ousted Mark pretty quick. But, it took over an hour to get rid of Andy. I got Victoria Ash and Mkhokheli into play. With the extra votes and Catalina’s and Victoria’s +1bleed ability I slowly whittled away at Andy. Andy had plenty of Delaying Tactics. I want to say he used four of them against me. He bounced most of my bleeds into Brad. But, over time I got him. Brad surrendered after that.

Andy is a really good player. He won the other two tournaments this weekend. He made all three final tables. I call him my arch-enemy. He says to me, ”How am I your arch-enemy?” He knows why. LOL. He’s always at the final table. I have played Andy at the final table more than any other player I have played against. Especially, all the tournaments and games over 30 years of casual play in Dallas. Andy is one of the best players in the game. He doesn’t get enough credit.

Thanks to Devin Villegas the Prince of New Orleans for hosting. Michelle (my wife) and I had great luncheon with Devin and his family. What a great host. Thanks to Go 4 Games. Great store. Wonderful atmosphere. Thanks for having us.

Final result: Kelly Lyons 4 VP, Brad Cashdollar 1 VP.

The tournament winning deck: “Water Dog - Flower Power”
Creators: Kelly Lyons and Randal Rudstam

This is the same deck I ran in Mississippi and got to the Final Table. I did make a few modifications from that deck to suit the current meta I was seeing. You can see the original deck on my Youtube Channel Reading Between the Lyons episode "RBTL - VTES - Episode 0044 - 30th Anniversary Toreador (TWEAKED)". Here are the modifications:
Dropped the following MASTERS:
1 X Anarch Troublemaker
1 X Camarilla Conclave
1 X Dreams of the Sphinx
1 X Elysium: The Palace of Versailles
Added the following MASTERS:
1 X Protected Resources (3 Copies)
1 X Secret Passage
2 X Secure Haven
Dropped the following POLITICAL ACTIONS:
1 X Anarchist Uprising
1 X Ancilla Empowerment
Added the following POLITICAL ACTIONS:
1 X Camarilla's Iron Fist (7 Copies)
1 X Kine Resources Contested (3 Copies)

Crypt (12 cards)
2x Diana Iadanza 9 AUS CEL FOR PRE justicar Toreador:7
2x Catalina Vega 8 AUS CEL PRE for prince Toreador:6
2x Flávio Gonçalves 7 CEL PRE aus for prince Toreador:6
2x Mkhokheli 6 PRE aus cel for prince Toreador:6
1x Maila 6 AUS PRE cel primogen Toreador:6
1x Victoria Ash 6 PRE aus cel dom Toreador:7
1x Kazuki Hanabira 2 aus Toreador:7
1x Mateo García 2 pre Toreador:6

Library (90 cards)
Master (20; 4 trifle)
1x Art Museum
2x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x Giant's Blood
3x Protected Resources
1x Secret Passage
2x Secure Haven
6x Toreador Grand Ball
3x Villein
1x Wider View

Action (8)
2x Embrace, The
2x Entrancement
2x Heart of the City
2x Third Tradition: Progeny

Political Action (15)
2x Banishment
7x Camarilla's Iron Fist
3x Kine Resources Contested
3x Parity Shift

Action Modifier (25)
2x Aire of Elation
4x Awe
2x Bewitching Oration
4x Forced March
3x Freak Drive
2x Loup
2x Perfect Paragon
6x Voter Captivation

Action Modifier/Combat (2)
2x Resist Earth's Grasp

Action Modifier/Reaction (2)
2x Scalpel Tongue

Combat (8)
2x Charismatic Aura
4x Majesty
2x Torrent

Reaction (10)
2x Eyes of Argus
2x On the Qui Vive
2x Second Tradition: Domain
4x Telepathic Misdirection

Thanks to Devin, Kelly, sponsors and participants! If you are interested in the other two events, check out the VEKN forum: Abandoning the Flesh New Orleans 2024 and Redeem the Lost Soul New Orleans 2024

Current top 10 standings Gulf Coast Roast Grand Prix (Rank – Name – Points)
1 Kelly Lyons 90
2 Brad Cashdollar 50
3 Dean Garrison 40
3 S. Andy Smith 40
5 Sidney Conklin 31
5 Matthew Hatch 31
7 Darby Keeney 28
8 Norm Brown 26
9 Chance Thebeau 24
10 Mark Figuerola 21

Find out more about the Gulf Coast Roast and its next installment at the Facebook page or at official web site.